BRIDGNORTH’S director of rugby Dale Smallman has promised to leave a little bit of Shropshire on the Yorkshire Coast this weekend.
Bridgnorth, the Midlands Intermediate Cup winners, face a trip to Scarborough in the RFU Intermediate Cup semi-finals and Smallman has promised that his players will give everything to reach a Twickenham final.
“Our mentality is very much what we spoke about before. It is our day in the sun for everyone involved in the club.
“Our game plan will be based as trying to put as much pressure as we can onto a very good team. The weight of expectation playing at home is great so our litmus paper will be to keep the crowd as quiet as possible.
“The lads have all grown up together. The majority of the 22 that will be travelling up there have come through the mini and junior section of the club. The lads that have come in are local lads who have an affinity with Bridgnorth.
“It is about the unit and our starter for ten is that we are going to work harder than them. If we work harder than them that is our foundation.
“We will be living a tiny little bit of Bridgnorth upon the coast of North Yorkshire for evermore. Win, lose or draw we should be able to look ourselves in the mirror and say we absolutely gave it everything.”
Bridgnorth beat Northampton Old Scouts to claim the Midlands crown earlier this month in front of a 1,200 crowd at their Edgar Davies Ground and Smallman accepts that home advantage could be a key factor.
“It’s a fantastic set up at Scarborough. It looks a fantastic playing surface, they have got a big stand and the club has a conference facility,” Smallman said.
“They are very well thought of and it will be a fantastic occasion. They will put the match in very well, they have a big support base so really it’s all set up.
“It’s turned its tables on the home advantage. We want to try to put them under as much pressure as we can.
“Even more so when you are playing away from home it’s about managing the game and taking opportunities when they arrive.”
Bridgnorth will stop off at Castle Park, home of Doncaster Knights, to take in the British and Irish Cup final against Worcester Warriors on Good Friday to support Worcester back row player Huw Taylor, who is a product of Bridgnorth’s youth system.
“We have a bit of a link with Worcester because Huw, who has been captaining their team in this competition, is a Bridgnorth lad and he started his career with us,” Smallman said.
“There is every chance that he will be involved on Friday so to have a Bridgnorth lad involved is a nice little link in terms of the all weekend.”
Bridgnorth will be accompanied by Shaun Perry, the former England scrum-half, who has worked with them on a consultancy basis for two years.
Perry did a session before the Midlands final and will again help Bridgnorth prepare for the Scarborough semi final.